Automatically-operated stringed musical instrument.



No. 678,3l8. Patented July 9, I90l.

D. K. MARSHALL.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED STBINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 678,3!8. Patented July 9, I90l. D. K. MARSHALL.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATEDSTRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 678,3I8. Patented July 9, I901.

D. K. MARSHALL. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Oct 18, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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N0. 678,38. Patented July 9, 1901. n. K. MARSHALL.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT;

(Application filed 00C. 18, 1897.) (N o M o d e l IG; E

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N0. 678,3!8. Patented July 9, [90L D. K. MARSHALL.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED STRINGED MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT. (Application filed Oct. 18, 1897.) (No Model.)

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INVENTUFQ M I UNITED [STATES PATENT. tries.

DANA K. MARSHALL, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO GHARLESF. BROWN, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED STRI'NGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,318, dated July 9, 1901. Applicatioh filed October 18, 1897 Serial No. 655,585; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANA K. MARSHALL, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically-Operated Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatically-op- 1'0 erated stringed musical instruments in which the performance is governed by a progressively-moving actuator acting through suitable intermediate means upon string-vibrating devices and stringshortening fingers. Heretofore the progressively-movin g actuator has been a perforated sheet, the perforations in which either permit the closing of an electric circuit through which electrically-controlled mechanism is operated to move the string-vibrating devices and fingers or to permit the movement of air-currents, which produce the same result through suitable pneumatic devices.

The present invention has for one object to provide an apparatus of this character in which the progressively-movin g actuator shall I act mechanically to operate the string-vibrating devices and the string-shortenin g fingers.

The invention also has for its obj ect'to pro- 0 vide simple and effective means whereby the strings of a violin may be automatically vibrated.

The invention consists in the several improvements which I will now proceed to de- 5 scribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of an automatic musical apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a section on lines 4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 4f and 4. represent modifications hereinafter described. represents an end Fig. 0 elevation. Fig. 6 represents a view showing a portion of the base of the instrument in section and showing an elevation of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isa diagrammatic view representing the operation of the string-vibrating bows or belts. Fig. 8 represents a side View, and Fig. 9 a top view,

of one form of progressively-moving actuating-surface embodying my invention. Figs. 10 and 11 represent, respectively, a side View and edge view of another form of actuating device embodying my invention. Figs. 12 and 13 represent modifications of the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Fig. 14. represents a view showing the adaptation of my improvements to a banjo.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, arepresents a base or bed having means for detachably holding a violin b or other musical stringed instrument, such as a banjo, mandolin, &c. In Figs. 1, 3, and 5 I show the base provided with vertical rods a, having bent upper ends projecting over the body of the instrument I) and provided with heads a having felt washers or faces adapted to bear on the upper surface of the body of the instrument, the lower ends of the rods passing through the top of the base and being screw-threaded and provided with adjusting-nuts a (see Fig. 3,) whereby the heads a may be drawn down upon the instrument and caused to clamp it upon suitable seats provided upon the base.

'When the instrument is a violin and requires to be played by a vibrator equivalent to a bow drawn across its strings, I provide as the string-vibrating means two bands or belts c c, which I will call, for convenience, belt-bows and which extend across the instrument at the point where the bow is usually applied to the strings, and are supported by pulleys which are adjusted toward and from the instrument, so that the under side of each belt-bow can be depressed upon and raised from one or more of the strings. The belt-bows c 0 may be made of any suitable material, leather or sill: being preferred by me at the present time, although I do not limit myself to these materials. I prefer to arrange the belt-bows so that one of them is adapted to act upon thetwo strings at one side of the series and the other upon the two strings at the opposite side. As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the two belt-bows run crosswise of each other or at different angles, the angle of the belt-bows accommodating them to the position of the strings. The belt-bows are supported by pulleys c,which are mounted to rotate upon standards 0 c aflixed to the base at opposite sides of the instrument Z). One of the pulleys supporting each beltbow is continuously rotated to give motion to its belt-bow by power applied in any suitable way, preferably from a driving-shaft 0 which may be driven by an electric motor or otherwise, and is connected by belts c c with the driven pulleys c c, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The belt-bows c c are normally out of contact with the strings Z) of the instrument, and automatic mechanism is provided for applying either belt-bow to one or more of the strin gs by depressing the lower portion of the belt-bow from its normal position, so as to apply it to one or more strings, as indicated in Fig. 7, where the dotted lines show the normal positions of the belt-bows, the full lines showing the belt-bows depressed to act upon the strings. Said automatic mechanism ineludesaprogressively-movingactuator,which may be a rotating cylinder (1, as shown in Figs.

" 1, 2, and 3, or an endless belt or band d,

which may be a single sheet, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, of any suitably strong and flexible material, such as leather-board, or an endless belt or band (1 composed of ascries of slats of rigid material flexibly connected, the slats being, for example, of wood cemented or otherwise secured to a continuous strip of canvas which flexibly connects the slats in a continuous hand. Then the actuator is a cylinder, it is moved progressively by the rotation of the cylinder, effected by any suitable means, preferably by the motor which actuates the belt bow c c. lVhen the actuatoris an endless beltorband, as shown in Figs. 8 to 12, it is supported at suitable points by idle pulleys and is preferably driven by means of one or more sprocketwheels d, the teeth of which engage holes (1, formed for their reception in the said belt or band near its edges, as shown in Fig. 10. \Vhen the belt or band is constructed of slats, I prefer to make itseparable ata suitable point in order that it may be conveniently applied and removed. The slats forming the ends of the series are provided with coupling members, whereby they may be detachably connected to form an endless band. In Figs. 10 and 11 I show one ofthe said slats provided with thin steel plates (1 d permanently riveted at d to one of the slats and overlapping the other slat and provided with orifices to receive the pins or projections d on the lastmentioncd slats. 13y springing the plates (1 outwardly the end slats of the series may be disconnected, as will be readily seen. By thus providing means for breaking the continuity of the band or belt I am enabled not only to easily apply and remove it, but also to roll it in compact form when not in use.

The actuator, whether it be a cylinder or a belt or band, has suitable provisions for causing movement of a series of lovers or other mechanical contrivances interposed between the said actuating-surface and the belt-bows and the string-pressing fingers hereinafter described, so that when the said actuator moved progressively the bows and fingers will be operated in accordance with the scheme or program for which the actuator was prepared. The said provisions may be a series of pins or projections on the actuator or a corresponding series of slots, recesses, holes, or indentations in the surface of the actuator. In Figs. 1 and 3 I show pins or projections 6 radiating from the actuator, the latter being a cylinder. In Fig. 12 I show similar pins e projecting from the actuator, the latter being a band or belt composed of strips. In Fig. 10 I show recesses or depressions e formed in the actuator for the same purpose, and in Fig. 9 I show orifices 6 The said projections, recesses, or orifices are arranged to actuate the belt-bows and the fingers in any order or manner desired, each actuator being prepared to produce a given tune or musical performance, some of the projections, holes, or recesses being arranged to operate thebelt-bows, while others are arranged to operate the fingers in a manner which will be readily understood.

The intermediate mechanism which communicates motion from the projections, holes, or recesses to the belt-bows and fingers may be organized in any suitable way. I have here shown said mechanism comprising in each case a lever-f, which is normally pressed toward the actuator and is adapted to be displaced from its normal position by action of the projections. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the levers fare pivoted at f to cars on the base a, each lever having at one end a tooth or finger-f projecting toward the actuator and adapted to be raised therefrom by contact with one of the projections c. To the opposite end of said lever is connected a cord, chain, or other flexible connecting device f which for convenience I will term a cord. extend to the devices for raising and depressing the belt-bows, while the cords of other levers extend to the devices for depressing the fingers. Said cordsf are guided by suitable guiding-pulleys f, the arrangement being such that whenever a lever fis displaced from its normal position by one of the projections c a pull will be exerted on the cord f attached to that lever, and through said cord the belt-bow or finger intended to be op erated thereby is moved to accomplish the desired result.

The fingers g are arranged in a series of groups, each group extending transversely across the neck of the instrument and comprising four fingers, one for each string. The

groups of fingers are arranged at diilerent distances from the bridge oi the instrument, the number of groups being sufficient to pro- The cords of some of the leversf vide for all the lengths of string required for producing the different notes of amusical composition. The fingers are attached to the bent ends of vertical rods g, which extend through guiding-orifices formed in holding-strips 9 preferably detachably secured by screws g or otherwise to the sides of the neck of the instrument. The rods g extend downwardly through brackets or guides g affixed to the base a, and are attached at their lower ends to cords f, the cords and their supportingpulleys being arranged so that when a cord is pulled, as above described, the finger to which it is connected through the intermediate rod g is depressed against the pressure of the springs 9 The fingers are normally raised from the strings by means of the said springs. The holding strips or sections 9 through which the finger-rods g pass, are, as already stated, detachably secured to the neck of the instrument, the object of this arrangement being to enable the fingers to be readily displaced from their position over the strings, and thus permit the instrument to be readily removed from and applied to the base. There being two of the holding strips or sections g each holding one-half of the fingers, the fingers over the two strings at one side may be displaced in one direction and those at the opposite side may be displaced in the opposite direction, so that bya comparatively slight movement of the fingers theycan be separated sufficiently to permit the raising of the neck of the instrument between them. The bent ends of the rods g, to which the fingers are attached, are of different shapes, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of every alternate rod being longer than the ends of the other] rods and curved so as to bring the'fingers of each group into alinement across the neck of the instrument. It will be seen that by 10- cating the vertical portions of the rods 9 outside the neck of the instrument and bending the upper ends of said rods over the neck I am enabled to greatly simplify the construction of the fingers, each finger comprising a small button and a rod with a bent neck, to the end of which the button is secured. The button may be secured by simply driving the end of the neck into it, the button being of wood or other compressible material.

The mechanism for raising and depressing the belt-bows includes, in addition to the leversf and cords f above described, arms f pivoted at f to the standards 0 each arm having at its swinging end two pulleysf bearing upon opposite sides of one of the belt-bows c, as shown in Fig. 5. The armsf are normally held by springs f in position to hold the belt-bowsout of contactwith the strings. To each arm f is connected avertical rod f ,which passes downwardly through a guide in the base a and is connected at its lower end with one of the cordsf The arrangement of the cords f and their guiding-pulleys, when pins or projections e are employed on the actuator, is such that the above-described pull on the cord f caused by the displacement of the lever f bya pin, will depress the rod f" and swing downwardly the arm f connected with said rod, thus depressing the belt-bow engaged with said arm and causing it to bear upon one or more of the strings. It should be here stated that each belt-bow is engaged with two of the arms f one arm being at one side of the series of strings and the other at the opposite side. The two arms may be operated either independently or in unison. WVhen only one arm f is depressed, the belt-bow engaged there with is depressed in such manner as to bear upon only one string; but when both arms f are depressed simultaneously the bow is caused to bear simultaneously upon two strings. The belt-bow can be caused to bear upon either of the two strings with which it cooperates by depressing either of the arms f leaving the other in its normal position. For example, referring to Fig. 7, the beltbow can be engaged with the extreme righthand string by depressing the right-hand arm, leaving the left-hand arm in its normal position. The bolt can be engaged with the second string from the right by depressing the left-hand arm, leaving the right-hand arm in its normal position. It will be seen, therefore, that perfect control is exercised over the bows, the depression of the bows being determined by the arrangement of the projections on the actuator.

The pins or projections 6 may be made of various forms and lengths, as shown in Fig. 13, where I show each pin provided with a shank adapted to be driven into the cylinder or into the slats, whereby the pins are sup ported and carried. The acting portions of the pins are preferably offset from the shanks, so that when the pins are used in a belt made of slats their acting portions may extend across cracks between the slats, if desired.

When the actuator is provided with recesses or holes instead of projections, the intermediate mechanism is arranged so that the belt-bows and the fingers will be pressed against the strings when the levers f are moved inwardly toward the actuator by sinkinginto the holes instead. of outwardly,asis the case when pins or projections are employed. In Fig. 4 I show an arrangement for operating the fingers when the levers fsink into holes in the actuator, the finger-rods g being extended inwardly beyond the adjacentguidepulleys f and the cords arranged so that when moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4: they will raisethe fingers from the strings. Springs 9 interposed between the guides g and collars g on the rods g, exert pressure on the rods in the direction required to pull the cordsf in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4*, thus causing the cords to press the levers f against the surface of the actuator. When a lever coincides with a hole in the actuator, it sinks into the hole, thus permitting the spring 9 to press the finger of the rod to which it is applied against the accompanying spring. The same arrangement may be employed for actuating the belt-bows,the springs f which act on the belt-controlling arms f being arranged, as shown in Fig. i, to normallydepress the belts instead of raising them.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show means for applying resin to the belt-bows c c. 01 represents a box adapted to hold a cake z" of resin, said box being attached to an arm or lever 2' which is pivoted at t to the standard a and is provided at its outer end with a shoulder i, which is in rolling contact with the belt-bow to be acted on by the resin. The arm 1 may be pressed downwardly upon the bow either by gravitation or by a suitable spring 11 It will be seen that the arms 6 hearing yieldingly on the belt-bows, act as tighteners to main tain the said bows at the proper degree of tension.

For the sake of automatic adjustability I prefer to provide a spring connection between the leversfand the cordsf, so that the m ovement imparted by said levers and cords to the bows or to the lingers may be somewhat yielding, preventing strain on the parts in case there is a tendency to move the bows or fingers downwardly farther than is required. In Fig. 3 I show this yielding connection in the form of a spring) connecting the cord f with the lever f. f and f, Fig. 5, represent adjustingscrews which limit the movements of the bowadjusting arms f, said screws enabling the np-and-down movements of the bow to be accurately adjusted.

In Fig. 14. I show means for vibrating or picking the strings of a banjo, guitar, or mandolin, said means comprising a piclcerp, a moving actuator having projections e, a lever f, arranged to be operated by said projections, and connections between said lever and the picker. In this case said connections comprise a bel1-crank leverp, pivoted at p to a bracketp ailixed to the head of a banjo (1, one arm of said lever being pivoted at p" to the shank of the picker 1) and a cord or chain f connecting the leverp with the lever f. A spring 1), connected with the lever 19' and bracket p normally forces the picker forward in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 14. The displacement of the leverf by the pin 6' moves the picker in the opposite direction and causes it to vibrate the string. The picker has a pin 1), which moves in an elliptical slot or guide 19 arranged to give the picker an upward movement when it is moved backwardly to pick the string and a downward movement when it is moved forward by the spring 19 It is obvious that the arms f which raise and depress the belt-bows, may be operated by any other suitable means and are not necessarily used in connection with an actuator and intermediate connections of the character described.

I do not limit myself to the specific mechanism here shown, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhen orifices c are formed in the actuator,

as shown in Fig. 9, or when depressions such as e in Fig. 10 are employed, I prefer to mount a roller or wheel on the end of the leverf, which wheel is adapted to ride into or out of said orifices or depressions. Such a wheel is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and serves to facilitate the accurate operation of the lever.

With the arrangement of cords, chains, or other flexible connections such as shown at f in Fig. 14. I am enabled, by means of guiding-pulleys, such as f, to extend the connections in any direction desired, so that different elements of the mechanism having different locations may be moved in different directions from one actuator and series of levers.

I claim- 1. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a lover, a progressivelyqnoving actuator mechanically controlling said lever, a belt-bow and means fordriving it, and connections between said how and lever whereby the angular position or plane of movement of the bow is varied with the position of the lever.

2. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising two levers,a progressively-moving actuator mechanically controlling said levers, a belt-bow and means for driving it, and separate bow-moving connect-ions between the levers and the how, one lever being connected with the bow near one end of its operating portion, while the other lever is connected with the bow near the other end of its operating portion.

3. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a lever having a projection, a progressively-movin g actuator against which the projection bears, a belt-bow extending across the strings of a musical instrument, a movable arm engaged with a portion of the bow for deflecting that portion, and connections between said arm and lover.

t. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising a lever, a progressively-moving actuator mechanically controlling said lever, a belt-bow and means for driving it, means for adjusting the angle of the plane of move ment of the operative portion of the bow, and a self-adjusting or elastic connection between the adjusting device and lever.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, an actuating-band composed of a series of flexibly-connected slats or strips having pins or projections each comprising a penetrating shank and an acting portion offset therefrom.

6. An apparatus of the character specified,

name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 30th day of IO September, A. D. 1897.

DANA K. MARSHALL. v

Witnesses:

W. A. PUTNAM, GERTRUDE E. FARRAR. 

